Cii Radio| Ayesha Ismail|30 September 2016| 28 Zhul Hijjah 1437
Abu Bakarah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumadah and Sha’ban.”
Allah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month. It is the first month of theHijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein … “Al-Qur’an 9:36
In this month the 10th of Muharram is an excellent day. “It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Hazrat Musa and his people and drowned Pharoah and his people, and Sayyidina Musa observed fast out of gratitude. On this day: Allah accepted the repentance of Adam (‘Alaihis-Salaam) after his exile from Paradise; Allah saved Nuh (‘Alaihis-Salaam) and his companions in the ark; Allah extinguished the fire in which Ibrahim (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was thrown by Nimrood; And Allah spoke directly to Sayyidina Musa (‘Alaihis-Salaam) and gave him the Commandments.
On this same 10th of Muharram, Ayyub (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was restored to health (from leprosy); Yusuf (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was reunited with his father Ya’qub (‘Alaihis-Salaam); Yunus (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was taken out from the belly of the fish; and the sea was divided as the nation of Israel was delivered from captivity and Pharoah’s army was destroyed. ‘Ashura is also the day when Dawud (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was forgiven; the kingdom of Sulaiman (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was restored; Isa (‘Alaihis-Salaam) was raised to Jannah and Sayyidina al-Husayn (Radiyallahu ‘anh) (the Holy Prophet’s, Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, grandson) achieved the honor of Martyrdom.
Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month and to confirm its sanctity. Allah’s words (interpretation of the meaning): ” … so wrong not yourselves therein … ” mean do not wrong yourselves in these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in other months. It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said that this phrase referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.
Abu Bakarah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumadah and Sha’ban.”Reported by Al-Bukhari, 2958
Qatadah said concerning this phrase that wrongdoing during the sacred months is more serious and more sinful that wrongdoing at any other time. Wrongdoing at any time is a serious matter, but Allah gives more weight to whichever of His commands He will. Allah has chosen certain ones of His creation. He has chosen from among the angels Messengers and from among mankind Messengers. He chose from among speech the remembrance of Him (dhikr).
He chose from among the earth the mosques, from among the months Ramadhan and the sacred months, from among the days Friday and from among the nights Laylatul-Qadr, so venerate that which Allah has told us to venerate. People of understanding and wisdom venerate the things that Allah has told us to venerate. [Summarized from the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir,may Allah have mercy on him. Tafsir of Surah at-Tawbah, ayah 36]
The Virtue of Observing More Nafil Fasts During Muharram
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:”The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:’The best of fasting after Ramadhan is fasting Allah’s month of Muharram.’ “Reported by Muslim, 1982
The phrase “Allah’s month”, connecting the name of the month to the name of Allah in a genitive grammatical structure, signifies the importance of the month. Al-Qari said: “The apparent meaning is all of the month of Muharram.” But it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) never fasted any whole month apart from Ramadhan, so this hadith is probably meant to encourage increasing one’s fasting during Muharram, without meaning that one should fast for the entire month.
It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to fast more in Sha’ban. It is likely that the virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during this month. [Sharh an-Nawawi ‘ala Sahih Muslim]
Extracts – Sunnahonline| jmicnj.org
